Google is testing option for sites not to appear in AI search results

Google is testing an option for websites not to appear in AI search results in the United Kingdom. This option should later be rolled out worldwide. The company says it does this to meet requirements from the Competition and Markets Authority.

Some websites can now choose not to be included in Search's diverse AI results, according to Google. This concerns services such as AI-generated search summaries of Overviews, the chat function AI Mode and AI Overviews in the Discover tab. As far as we know, Google currently uses all search results to generate a possible AI answer.

The search giant is warning websites that if they choose not to be included in the AI ​​modes, they will not receive search traffic from these features. Google does assure that parties that choose the opt-out option will not appear lower in the general search results.

To encourage website owners to keep their content available for Google's AI services, new information is becoming available to them. “These are insights into impression metrics and information about which pages appear in AI results, and in which countries.”

First in the UK, then in the rest of the world

It's no coincidence that Google is initially testing the features in the United Kingdom. The country placed Google under increased supervision due to its great power in the search market. The search giant has also been accused of abuse of power there.

After the test in the UK, Google says the opt-out feature should roll out globally. It is not yet known exactly when.